May 2026 | RETS Associates
One of the most common themes we continue to hear from young professionals in CRE is that early career success rarely comes from one single thing. It’s usually a combination of exposure, curiosity, preparation, and relationships that gradually help people find their footing in the industry.
For students and recent graduates, the challenge is often less about finding opportunities and more about knowing how to take advantage of them. The professionals below shared some of the experiences, habits, and resources that helped shape their path into commercial real estate.
Leasing Associate | Link Logistics
“College is an amazing time to meet people within the real estate community as you are just entering the workplace. Use all of the resources your university provides, and normally they will be able to connect you with strong alumni within the local area. You have an “unlimited access pass” to engage with every part of the business as a student, so meet as many people as possible.
The real estate world is a small community, so make strong 1st impressions and show up as prepared as possible. The most important thing you can ask someone is for who they would suggest to meet next. They will most likely be willing to share a few more peoples information.
Use the time left in school to figure out what parts of the industry you are interested in. Most likely you have only touched the surface of the opportunities within RE. There are a lot of great ways to participate in RE, and college is a great time to do internships (not just during the summer but throughout the school year).
Get your real estate license. This is a great leg up when looking for jobs. Groups like ULI, NAIOP, and CREW regularly host speaker series and networking events, and most welcome students.”
The Takeaway:
A lot of the advantage students have comes down to access. Universities, alumni networks, internships, and industry organizations create opportunities to learn about different parts of CRE before committing to one path. The earlier you start having conversations and building relationships, the more informed your decisions become over time.
Investment Analyst | Batson Cook Development Company
“I would say the biggest thing was networking/finding a mentor. Meeting various people in various different types of CRE roles gave me great background knowledge in addition to my university coursework. It also helped me figure out which part of the industry I wanted to be in.
My mentor also was a huge help in giving introductions, reviewing resume, offering negotiation advice, and more. Also, the Wall Street Prep real estate modeling course was a huge help in getting myself ready technically.”
The Takeaway:
Early exposure to different roles within CRE can help narrow down where your interests and strengths actually align. Mentors can also play a major role early on, not just through introductions, but by helping navigate decisions, technical preparation, and the transition from school into the industry.
⭐More to come as we continue sharing perspectives from across the CRE industry.
